Collapsible closures



W. L. ROY

COLLAPSIBLE CLOSURES Feb. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 24, 1953 Feb. 25, 1958 w. L. ROY I 2,824,609

COLLAPSIBLE CLOSURES Filed Aug. 24, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Unite COLLAPSllBLE CLOSURES Walter L. Roy,' Saugus, Mass, as'signor, by mesneaSsignments, to Harold B. Neal, Needham, Mass., as trustee Application August 24, 1953, Serial'No. 376,012

"9 Claims. (Cl; 160 218) This invention relates to collapsible closures-such as ln accordance with the invention, such a closure comprises two series of slats. Each slat has a plurality of spaced pairsof locking portions on one edge and is also provided with a plurality of spacedapertures to enable it to be caught'between the locking portions of a slat of the other series. The slats of the two series when thus con nected are provided with first and second parallel hinge "axes spaced equally from but on opposite'sides' ofacentralplane through thelength of the blind with' 'any two connected slats being free to swing relative to each other between a collapsed position and an operative position in which the locking portions of one of them bind against opposite faces of the other.

-In the accompanying drawings, there is shown an illus- *trative embodiment of the invention from which these and other of its objectives, novel features, and advantages will-be readily apparent.

In the drawings:

'Fig. 1 is a face view of a closure in its extended or operative position;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the closure positioned as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the closure inits collapsed position;

Fig. 4 is a section, on an increased scale, taken along the indicated lines 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of one slat of each series;

and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary edge View of a slat, on an in creased scale, showing the disposition of the tabs to facilitate the interconnection of the slats.

In accordance with theinvention, there "are provided 'two series of slats, indicated at 10 and 11, respectively. Each slat of both series is shown as having a plurality of projections 12 spaced along its edge 13. Each projection 12.has an open-ended slot 14 of a width greater than the thickness of the stock from which the slats are formed and whose edges are in parallel with the edge Band establish a pair of locking portions of which oneis in. the form of a tab 15.

Each slat is also provided with a plurality of spaced apertures, generally indicated at 16. These apertures are 1 located approximately one-third the distance between the edge defined by the extremity of the projection 12 and the opposite slat edge and each is shown as consisting of three interconnected slots 17, 18, and 19. The slot 17 is disposed at right angles to the edges of the locking portions while the slots 18 and 19 are parallel thereto but preferably of unequal length and establish a tab. 20. The length of the slot 17 is equal to the width of .the tab tates Patent and the len'gthofthe tslot 18"is'"'e qual 'to the'width of the web 21 betweeneaehtab 1S and the projection 12 of which'itisapart. I

It'will be noted that the tabs 15 and 20'are disposed in opposite directions and, as'willJbe apparent from Fig. 6, they are each curved slightlyto exposetheir extremities above opposite faces of the slat ofwhich they are a part, thus to enable the slat. ofjone'series' to be disposed on the slat of the other series-with the locking tabs 15 of one of them and the tabs-20of the other of them in aline- The two slat's'rn'ay be then slid relative to each other so that the locking tabs: 15enterthrough the slots 17 to the extent permitted by the webs 21. The-two slats are thus securely interconnected with one. being so caught between the locking portions of the other as to be free to swing from a collapsed position into an operative position in which said lockingportionsof one slat engage with opposite faces of the other slat toprovide a channel of V-shaped section but with the free edge of one slat being disposed beyond the free edge of theother slat.

The slats of the two series are'thusi'connected until the closure is complete. 'It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the locking portions establish hinge axes and the hinge axis between a slat of one series and the slat of another series caught between itslocking'portions andthe hinge axis between the slat of the first named series and the slat of the other series by whose locking portions it is caught are spaced equally from'but on'opposite sides of a central plane through the closure.

It will alsobe noted that the 'slats'are so proportioned and the connections betweenthem so located that,-when "the closure is extendedjlight is excluded and bafiles are provided while insuring adequate ventilation.

It will be noted that each slat includes a marginal free edge part 22 that is disposed at such an angle as to be parallel to said central plane when'the closure is extended. While means for so extending the closure are not shown, it will be noted that, adjacent each projection 12, each slat edge 13 is recessed as at23. In the assembled closure, corresponding recesses 23 aline to provide passageways in said central plane as will be apparent from Fig. 3. It will also be noted from Fig. 3, that'in the assembled closure, the edges 13 of the slats ofthe two series are disposed closely adjacent to each other.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that closures in accordance with the invention are easily and securely assembled from individual slats and are well adapted to meet the various requirements of 'theseveral uses for which they are intended.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A closure such as a blind, awning, and the like,

' said closure comprising aiplurality of slats arranged in two series, each slat including a plurality of spaced tabs projecting from and disposed in parallel with one edge to define therewith pairs of locking portions and connecting webs, the free ends of said tabs being inclined in the same direction with reference to one face of their slat, each slat also having a plurality of spaced apertures spaced equally from said edge through each of which extends one of the webs of a slat of the other series thus to be caught between the locking portions thereof, said apertures being dimensioned to enable the tabs and Webs of a' slat of the other series to be entered therethroughW/hen two slats, one from each series, are assembled in face-to-face contact by relative endwise movement with the tabs of one overlapping the tabs of the other and in alinement with and inclined towards the apertures thereof, the slats of the two series being thus connected and provided with first and second parallel hinge axes spaced equally from but on opposite sides of a plane throughthe length of the blind, and any two. thus connected; slats-.being freeto swing relative to each other 3 between a collapsed position and an operative position in which the locking portions of one slat engage opposite faces of the other slat.

2. A closure such as a blind, awning, and the like,

. said closure comprising a plurality of slats arranged in two series, each slat including a plurality of slats arranged in two series, each slat including a plurality of spaced projections on one edge, each projection having an openended slot in parallel with that edge and defining a pair of locking portions, of which one is a tab, and 2. connecting web, each slat also having a plurality of spaced apertures spaced equally from said edge to receive the tab of a slat of the other series thus to be caught between the locking portions, each aperture defining a tab and having its maximum width and length approximately equal to the width of said projection tabs and webs, respectively, at least one set of tabs having their free ends inclined in the same direction with reference to one face of their slat, the slats of the two series being thus connected and provided with first and second parallel hinge axes spaced equally from but on opposite sides of a plane through the length of the blind, and any two thus connected slats being free to swing relative to each other between a collapsed position and an operative position in which the locking portions of one slat engage opposite faces of the other slat.

3. A closure such as a blind, awning, and the like, said closure comprising a plurality of slats arranged in two series, each slat including a plurality of spaced tabs spaced from and disposed in parallel with one edge to define pairs of locking portions and connecting webs, each slat also having a plurality of spaced slots spaced equally from and parallel to said edge to receive the webs of a slat of the other series thus to be caught between the locking portions thereof, each slat also having a slot in communication with each web receiving slot and defining therewith a tab receiving aperture and an assembly tab the slats of the two series being thus connected and provided with first and second parallel hinge axes spaced equally from but on opposite sides of a plane through the length of the blind, and any two thus connected slats being free to swing relative to each other between a collapsed position and an operative position in which the locking portions of one slat engage opposite faces of the other slat, said slats being dimensioned to enable any pair of connected slats to define a V-shaped channel to shield the hinge axis between one of them and another slat of the other series to which it is connected.

4. A closure such as a blind, awning, and the like, said closure comprising a plurality of slats arranged in two series, each slat including a plurality of spaced tabs projecting from and in parallel with one edge to define a pair of locking portions, each slat also having aplurality of spaced apertures spaced equally from said edge to receive the tabs of a slat of the other series thus .to be caught between the locking portions thereof, the' slats of the two series being thus connected and provided with first and second parallel hinge axes spaced equally from but on opposite sides of a plane through the length of the blind, and any two thus connected slats being free to swing relative to each other between a collapsed position and an operative position in which the locking portions of one slat engage opposite faces of the other slat, said slats being dimensioned to enable any pair of connected slats to define a V-shaped channel to shield the hinge axis between one of them and the proximate slat of the other series, the other edge of each slat being disposed at such an angle relative thereto as to be parallel to said plane in said operative position.

5. A closure such as a blind, awning, and the like, said closure comprising a plurality of slats arranged in two series, each slat including a plurality of spaced projections on one edge, each projection having an open-ended slot and defining a pair of locking portions and a connecting Web, each slat also having a plurality of spaced apertures spaced equally from said edge, each aperture being L-shaped and disposed to provide a slot at right angles to said edge whose width is equal to that of a tab and a slot in parallel with said edge, the length of said last named slot being equal to the width of a web between its tab and said edge, the slats of the two series being thus connected and provided with first and second parallel hinge axes spaced equally from but on opposite sides of a plane through the length of the blind, and any two thus connected slats being free to swing relative to each other between a collapsed position and an operative position in which the locking portions of one slat engage opposite faces of the other slat.

6. A slat for a closure such as a blind, awning, and the like, said slat including a plurality of spaced L- shaped projections on one edge, each presenting a tab spaced from and in parallel with that edge to define therewith a pair of locking portions and a connecting web, and each slat also having a plurality of spaced apertures spaced equally from said edge, each aperture being L'-shaped to provide a slot at right angles to said edge whose length is equal to the width of a tab of a like slat and a slot in parallel with that edge whose length is equal to the width of a web, the width of each slot of each aperture being materially less than the width of the part of the L-shaped projection that its other slot is dimensioned to receive.

7. A slat for a closure such as a blind, awning, and the like, said slat including a plurality of spaced, L-shaped projections on one edge, each presenting a tab spaced from and in parallel with that edge to define a pair of locking portions and a web, and each slat also having a plurality of apertures each in the form of three interconnected slots of which one is at right angles to said edge and of a length equal to the width of a tab, another is proximate and parallel to said edge and of a length equal to the width of a web, and the third slot thereof is remote from said edge and parallel to but shorter than the web accommodating slot and serves to establish a tab, said tabs being disposed with their extremities projecting from opposite faces of the slat.

8. A closure such as a blind, awning, and the like, said closure comprising a plurality of members arranged in two series, of which at least one series are slats, each member including a plurality of spaced tabs projecting from and disposed in parallel with one edge to define therewith pairs of locking portions and connecting webs, the free ends of said tabs being inclined in the same direction with reference to one face of their member, each member also having a plurality of spaced apertures spaced equally from said edge through each of which extends one of the webs of a member of the other series thus to be caught between the locking portions thereof, said apertures being dimensioned to enable the tabs and webs of a member of the other series to be entered therethrough when two members, one from each series, are assembled in face-to-face contact by relative endwise movement with the tabs of one overlapping the tabs of the other and in alignment with and inclined towards the apertures thereof, the members of the two series being thus connected and provided with first and second parallel hinge axes spaced equally from but on opposite sides of a plane through the length of the blind, and any two thus connected members being free to swing relative to each other between a collapsed position and an operative position in which the locking portions of one member engage opposite faces of the other member.

9. An interconnecting member for a closure such as a blind, awning, and the like, said member including an L-shaped projection on one edge presenting a tab spaced from and in parallel with that edge to define a pair of locking portions and a web, and each member also having an aperture in the form of three interconnected slots, of which one is at right angles to said edge and of a length equal to the width of a tab, another is proximate 5 and parallel to said edge and of a length equal to the References Cited in the file of this patent width of a web, and the third slot thereof is remote from said edge and parallel to but shorter than the web ac- UNITED STATES PATENTS commodating slot and serves to establish a second tab, 2,305,559 Roy May 11, 1943 said tabs being disposed with their extremities projecting 5 2,352,892 Greuhch July 4, 1944 from opposite faces of said member. 

